On this edition of the NOLADrinks Show with Bryan Dias, we spend a terrific afternoon at Bacchanal Fine and Wine Spirits located in the Bywater. We chat with Kent Broussard of the first annual New Orleans Mac n’ Cheese Fest. We also chat with Brent Tilden and Caroline Richter of noted Uptown restaurant Turkey and the Wolf. We close things out with Coryn Caspar and Ralph Shumaker of Bacchanal.
NOLADrinks – 10-19-17 – Afternoon at Bacchanal
We kick things off with some events around town and a couple thoughts on the California wildfires. Then, we head out and spend a beautiful afternoon at Bacchanal Fine Wine & Spirits http://www.bacchanalwine.com/ . Since a recent “cold front” (it’s all relative this time of year New Orleans!) has come through and the fall weather is, hopefully, here to stay, we couldn’t have picked a better day to hang out in their “backyard” and tape the show!
We start the interviews with Kent Broussard who is organizing the first annual New Orleans Mac n’ Cheese Fest http://www.nolamacncheesefest.com/ taking place this Saturday (10/21) in Armstrong Park! The event will feature live music, great drinks, and, of course, mac n’ cheese (and other great grub)! The fest will benefit various local youth charities and will feature judging for the best mac and more. See more here.
Next up, we ran into good friend, Brent Tilden, bar manager for the noted Uptown restaurant Turkey and the Wolf http://www.turkeyandthewolf.com/ . Brent, along with our new friend Caroline Richter, a bartender there, pop on for a segment and talk about their spot. We cover their beverage program, the vibe, the food, and some of the great press they’ve recently received including being called the “America’s Best New Restaurant” https://www.bonappetit.com/story/turkey-and-the-wolf by Bon Appetit magazine!
Then, Coryn Caspar, Director of Operations, and Ralph Shumaker, co-owner, of Bacchanal join us. We talk about their unique spot that, since day one, has been “wine-centric.” It’s a terrific wine bar, restaurant, and live music venue located in the Bywater.
We talk about how they carry-on the legacy of their original owner, Chris Rudge, who passed away suddenly about 2.5 years ago. We also talk about how they select their wines, how they work with their distributors, and more. Lastly, we talk about what they’ll be up to for South Africa Wine Week taking place October 30 to November 5. Bacchanal will feature South African wines during their Wednesday and Saturday tastings that week.
We close out with a little more on the California wildfires’ possible effect on winemaking and a couple other parting shots!